Who will you blame??!!

The job market is lousy! Or is it just your attitude that's lousy? I tend to focus on what the individual can do to alleviate his/her circumstances. Why? Because none of us can control external factors such as political upheaval, war, famine, bad weather, etc. So if you find yourself complaining each day about how lousy the job market is and how no companies will call you back, you are actually working against yourself!

I'll explain. You see, the problem is that we have all become a blame society. When something goes wrong in our lives (personal or professional) we seek to blame situations, circumstances, or people. While it is true, there are factors that affect our success in any given moment, focusing your energy on the blame game certainly won't help your cause. Why not reassess what is going wrong with your career search? Why not seek the advice of trusted companions? Why not take on the challenge to reinvent yourself and try something outside your comfort zone?

No, I guess that actually takes work! But wait a minute, are you not seeking "work"??!! How bad that would be if you are seeking work but you don't want to put in the "work" required to obtain work! That is not a good reflection upon you and most companies will not want that type of behavior within their ranks.

So once again I say, who will you blame? When times are bad and the seas are rough - who will you blame? When you don't get an interview after several weeks - who will you blame? When you continue to follow the same methods and same path with the same results - who will you blame?

Blame YOURSELF!! And then get off your butt and take action and do something to change your behavior and attitude. Ask your friends, family, former co-workers, etc., to give you a reality check and help you with your career search approach. This humility will take you a lot further and you may find that people are more willing to help you when they see that you recognize your career-limiting flaws.

It's so easy to blame others for our failures or lack of success. It takes virtually no energy!! You just point fingers and whisper under your breath and complain all day. Who would want to be around you if you're like that?? Certainly not the people who are making hiring decisions.

The Antidote to the Job Search Blues

It's easy to get down on yourself during these times of economic hardship. But there is a way to get through the anxiety of finding a job this fall. Shifting your Attitude from negative to positive! Sounds easy, right? Well, actually, it is. It all starts with who your circle of friends and associates are. Companies have long practiced this (or at least have tried to). If you can develop a community of positive, like-minded people you can achieve more than you ever thought possible.

Now this doesn't mean to go out and find your clone. It just means that you need to be smart about who you spend most of your time with. Surround yourself the "Positive Influencers" instead of the "Negative Influencers". Spend your time with people who are natural motivators and feel good types. People who are usually in a good mood and seem to reflect stress like Superman reflects bullets. These people will keep you in a good mood and have you laughing when you feel like crying.

And when you are in a good mood, you are more relaxed and creative. And that positive energy feeds on itself and allows you to develop and implement sound career goals. It allows you to take in advice from your support group which includes Career Coaches, Mentors, Classmates, Friends, Family, Former Co-workers/Boss, etc. Once you are on this path, the job search becomes a little easier because you are building momentum. And it's all due to a little attitude shift!